Developing a sustainable platform for a vibrant network of interregional youth initiative was the over-all aim of this two-day conference. Initiative, dialogue and subsidiarity were the topics up for grabs.
Fighting the democratic deficit from within
AER (The Assembly of European Regions) is an independent overarching organization seeking to promote and strengthen interregional ties all across the European continent. The organization counts more than 270 regions from 33 countries, constantly seeking expansion through new initiatives and links between regional councils, governments and interest organizations.
The infamous democratic deficit has in recent years turned into somewhat of a Brussels buzzword, and by that also an imperative for EU policymaking and strategies. According to organizations like the AER, the regions is where to start the battle against this indifference that still rules when it comes to European politics and the affect that these have on an increasing number of lives all across the continent. Drawing from almost 25 years of experience in the field, the AER is already a well-established key player in this game, taking care of its member regions’ interests on literally all levels through various official channels.
Novice networkers
One thing is, however, how established politicians and bureaucrats pursue and promote regional interests and agendas through high-level networking and lobbyism – another is how the ever-important younger generation of future Europeans sees this challenge. Or as Volker Hoff, member of the Hessian Regional Parliament and federal representative of the Hessen Region in the German Government put it during today’s opening plenary session:
“This is a monumental political challenge of today. We need a political thinking that takes into account the individual. This is turn will need engagement in networks on all levels, regional, national and international. And this is where you come into play.”
A notion that was backed by Udo Bullman, Hessian MEP:
“A new level of European decision making and multilevel governance in the making, and this is why we need you. We need strong pro-European pillars in the regions, based on the hopes and visions of future generations. Political activity at a regional level and the involvement of the youth will help us pursue our common goals. When facing challenges that are universal in the very sense of the word, the regions is where to start, and we need the next generation, because essentially you are the ones that will have to deal with this in the end.” Bullman told the young crowd of participants.
The idea of the gathering in Wiesbaden is thus to work out how to provide the youth of Europe with a voice, following a bottom-up line of thought in which true change firstly happens at the local level, albeit in the regions.
A blank page
Practically the participants will be joining different workshops in which they will be discussing issues like climate change, the financial crisis, democracy, European enlargement, migration and demographics in ongoing sessions of idea-exchange and brainstorming. Also, they will be asked to define the very content of the future network, which has already been named the AER Youth Regional Network.
Writing on a blank page then, the participants will have to articulate mid- and long term goals as well as practicalities and structure of the Network. According to head organiser, Malgorzata Kucinska, this method was chosen exactly to ensure the independent, authentic involvement of the participants based on their regional experiences:
“We want them to do it. We don’t impose any ideas or goals on the participants. They themselves will have to tell us what a young interregional network can do. What are their dreams? What are the obstacles? How should this be done? And most importantly, who shall do it? We cannot provide them with readymade answers to all this, because we don’t know them either. Coming here, they will have to define an agenda themselves through dialogue and exchange of ideas. This is what this is all about. Europe needs the inputs of the regions if we want to continue developing and exporting the European Ideal. And where else to start than by asking those who this is all about, namely the youth of the European regions?
According to plans, the conference will result in a final charter, The Wiesbaden Resolution that will serve as a defining framework for the future activities of the network.
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By: David Michael Barnwell
